Puneet Shoker. You might know her as “Puns” or “Shoks.” You might refer to her as the epitome of a student leader at York; and recognize her familiar and friendly face from the Vari Hall kiosk. Or maybe you know her as one of the stars of the Orientation PSA Frozen-parody video that has over 10, 000 views on the York University Facebook page.
On the other hand, you might not know that, “Piano, violin, guitar – study music for focus, concentration” video on YouTube is the most frequently played song in Puneet’s life, especially during midterm season. She confesses that if she listens to lyrical music while studying, it’s likely that she’ll break out in a solo karaoke jam.
Puneet Shoker is a Kinesiology and Health Science Specialized Honors major at York and a student health ambassador for the Faculty of Health. She has worked with Student Community and Leadership Development for 3 years. For 2 of those years, she worked with Residence Life as a Residence Assistant and currently she is the Team Lead with RED Zone.
Puneet is also a frequent participant of intramurals and a member of the Women’s Lacrosse Team. In fact, last November she was recognized as a OUA Academic Achievement Award Winner for 2014-2015. Puneet’s achievements doesn’t end there. She is a former executive member with Right to Play and South Asian Alliance at York.
So what does it mean to Puneet to be a student leader?
“For me, being a “student leader” you really gotta emphasize the student part. I think there’s something extraordinary about being a leader and a student at the same time. Many of us are leaders to other students, meaning we’re probably the best people to help one another because who better understands what a student goes through then another student.”
“On top of that,” she continues, “managing school itself is difficult so for those who can figure out a way to manage school and positively impact their community at the same time, are exactly the type of people who should be in leadership roles for others to look up to.”
Puneet is a testament to balancing school and giving back to her community. Outside of York, Puneet is a student volunteer at a Rehabilitation clinic and an active volunteer at her local Gurdwara. There, she gets to work with younger children in camps where they learn not only about the Sikh Religion, but how to foster leadership and deal with current issues. Puneet also volunteered with the Mississauga Seniors Club where she had the opportunity to teach how to lead active lifestyles and how to use new forms of technology.
But when she is not studying, working or volunteering, she treats herself to her favourite guilty pleasures: makeup and pizza. For Puneet, the feeling of coming home and unpacking packages of brand new makeup, is a “feeling like no other,” topped off with a pizza box on her left hand side, and some Pizza Pizza creamy garlic dip (of course!).
Unfortunately for the York community, Puneet’s time as an exceptional student leader is coming to an end. With an expected graduation date between June and October of this year, she is already thinking about beginning life after her undergraduate career.
“For the past 16 years I’ve ALWAYS been in school, like I mean literally. Whether it was during the regular school year or in summer school… and least to say it has always been my comfort zone. I’ve always had a plan to finish undergrad and go to grad school but this next year, I look forward to taking a year away from school and stepping outside my “solid plan”. I just landed a sweet opportunity to work with a travel excursions company. So along with travelling, I’ll be pursuing my passion for health care volunteering with a kids centre for treatment and development. I also plan to obtain my personal training certificate.”
And in 5 years? Other than paying off her student debt, Puneet’s ultimate goal is to have her Masters in Physiotheraphy from an accredited Canadian school and work towards her dream job of working amongst pediatrics. She hopes to see herself closer to her goal by gaining experience within the Rehabilitation field and ultimately land a job at SickKids Hospital in Toronto.
Puneet says her best friend would describe her as protective, loving, a dreamer and stubborn. Yet if she had to give advice to her first-year self, she would advise, “Be ready for change.”
“I came to York with a strict idea of what I wanted out of my degree and where I wanted to be at the end of my 4 years here. But little did I know, that things were going to change A LOT! I think one of the biggest things I struggle with now, is being okay with the idea that things aren’t going to go exactly the way I had planned for them to go. For example, I find myself struggling with the idea of taking a year off away from school because it was never how I pictured things to go. As a 4th year student, I can advocate for how fast time flies through your undergrad, so slow down. There’s really no rush to finish school so fast. So take your time, take fewer courses at a time, get involved more, build your personality and just take some time to take in your life and really savour these special years of your life.”